Signal-flag.



no. 659,200. Patented 00hs, |900.

H.: r. BEAVER.

SIGNAL FLAG. (Application mea .my 12, woo.)

(No Model.)

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NITRD STATES HARRY F. BEAVER, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SIG NAL-FLAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,280, dated october 9, 1900. Application filed July 12, 1900. Serial No. 23,354. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t nutyconcern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. BEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augus'la, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal-Flags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signal-flags; and the objects of the same are to provide Simple, convenient, efficient, and economicalmlmeans for displaying signal-flags and for protecting them when not in use.

As at present used a signal-nag usually consists of a piece of colored hunting secured to an ordinary wooden staff, and when such a Hag has been used the flagman wraps the bunting about the iiagstaff and throws it down at any convenient place until it is to be used again. These flags soon become worn, soiled, and discolored by such usage and have to be replaced by a new piece of hunting.

One of the objects of my invention is to keep the hunting neat and clean and to preserve it in a smooth and tidy condition.

Another object is to provide a device which will cover and protect either a single flag or any number of them in such a manner that the flag required may be instantly withdrawn from a casing and used, and when notrequired for further use it may be replaced in the casing without handling. The result of such procedure is that a signal-Hag may be used either in the hands of an operator or on an engine or can readily be'replaced in a casing when not in use, which will protect it from injury or from becoming soiled.

I attain the objects referred to by means of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a flagstaff or casing made in accordance with my invention, showing the cover of the casing removed. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing one of the ags drawn out of the casing and in position for use. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the ratchet-and-pawl devices for the springrollers. Fig. 4 is-a detail cross-section of the casing, showing the arrangement of rollers therein. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of casing. Fig.v `6 is a similar view thereof with the cover removed.

Like characters designate like parts wherever they occur in the different views of the drawings.

In said drawings the numeral 1 designates a casing,which may be conveniently made of 'sheet metal; but any suitable metal or matcrial may be used for this purpose. As shown in the drawings, this casing is round in crosssection; but it will be understood that the casing may be of any suitable contourin crosssection. Longitudinal slots 2 are formed in the casing, and at the top and bottom of' each of said slots an aperture 3 is formed in the wall of said casing. At the bottom of said casing a base-plate 3a is provided, and this plate has a suitable numberof holesl therein, the number of holes conforming to the number of flags to be used. Any suitable number of' spring-rollers 5 are journaled in the casing, the pintles 6 at one end of said rollers being seated in'the holes 4 in the base-plate. The squared pintles 7 at the opposite ends of the rollers are seated in the openings 8,formed in the cover 9 for the casing. This cover 9 is provided with a catch 10, which prevents itsrotation when in place on the casing. The rollers 5 may be of the type known as I-Iartshorn spring curtain-rollers,with such slight modification as would render them available for my purpose. The pawls l1 should be made positive in their action, so that whether the casing is disposed either vertically or horizontally the pawls will automatically catch the ratchet notches on the pintles. The arrangement shown serves my purpose, the pawls 11 fitting ratchet-notches l2 in the pintles, said notches being formed with an inclination 13, which carries the pawls out of' engagement when the ags are pulled out a slight distance. The ags 14 are secured one to each roller, and centrally on each iiag at its outer edge a handhold 15 is provided, which stops the iag from winding on the roller when said handhold reaches the slot 2. Cords 16 are secured to the outer corners 17 of the iiags, and these cords pass through the holes 3 in the casing and wind up on the rollers 5. rlhe purpose of these' cords is to prevent the ags from doubling or wrinkling as they are wound up on the rollers. I may also journal small rollers 18 in the casing at the opposite sides of the slots 2 in order that the flags will be IOO kept smooth in passing back and forth in and out of the casing.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the slots 2 extend out at the top edge of the casing, and latches a are pivoted to said casing and extend across the slots 2, near the upper and lower ends of said slots. The staples l), with which said latches engage, are secured to said casing at points immediately opposite the pivoted points ol'` said latches. When the flags 14 are to be placed in this casing, said flags and cords 16 are secured to the rollers 5, and when the cover 9 is removed and the latches c are thrown back away from the slots 2 the rollers are inserted, the flags and cords passing down the slots until the rollers are properly seated. When the rollers are in place, the latches o, are engaged with the staples b and the cords 16 at the top of the ilags pass out of the slots 2 above the upperlatch aand the lower cords 16 pass out of said slots below the lower latch a. The cover 9 is then replaced upon the casing and the device is ready for use. By this construction the rollers and flags may be readilyY removed either for renewal or for the use of different-colored flags.

It will be understood from the foregoing that one or any suitable number of flags may be used, the casing being of such size and shape in cross-section as will accommodate the number of flags required.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- A 1. A signal-flag consisting of a casing having a slotv therein, a hole in the casing at each end of the slot, a spring-roller jourualed in the casing, a flag secured to the roller, and a cord secured at each outer corner of the flag and passing into the hole in the casing, and around the roller, substantially as described.

2. A signal-flag comprising a casing having a slot therein, a hole at each end of the slot, a spring-roller journaled in the casing, a cover for said casing, a flag secured to the roller and extending out through the slot, a handhold secu red tothe flag, a cord secured to each of the outer corners of the flag and extending into the holes in the casing and around the roller, and a pair of rollers journaled in the casing one upon each side of the slot, substantially as described.

3. A signal-flag consisting of a casing having a plurality of longitudinal slots therein, an equal number of spring-rollers journaled in the casing, flags secured to the rollers and extending through the slots, holes in the casiug at the ends of the slots, and cords secured at the outer corners of the flags and extending through the holes in the casing, substantially as described.

4. A signal-flag consisting of a casing having a number of longitudinal slots therein, holes at the ends of the slots, a cover for the casing, spring-rollers journaled in the casing, flags secured to the rollers, cords secured at the outer corners of the flags and passing through the holes in the casing, handholds on the outer edges of the flags, and rollers journaled at each side of the slots in the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY F. BEAVER. W'ituesses:

F. L. BONNETT, W. F. EDMoND. 

